A 10 MINUTE hat-trick from substitute Steve White saved Birstall United from an unlikely slip-up in the Senior League Premier Division.

Opponents Asfordby Amateurs had only picked up one point from their previous 15 fixtures.

But they led at the break and it took veteran White’s second half intervention from the bench to avert a banana skin for Matt Gregory’s outfit.

White had been out for a number of weeks due to a broken hand but he returned in the nick of time for United after Asfordby had taken a 15th minute lead following a sloppy own goal.

“We know Asfordby are going to win a game some time, we just didn’t want it to be against us,” said assistant manager Gary Fox. “They’re a team of youngsters who make it difficult for you and their keeper made a couple of excellent saves which made us think it wouldn’t be our day.

“But we brought Steve White on at 1-1 and he scored three in 10 minutes so it was a comfortable last 20 minutes but a far from comfortable 90.”

Dave Wozencroft scored Birstall’s first as they moved up to ninth in the table and level on points with Rothley. It’s Saffron Dynamo up next.

“We’ve a young side ourselves and often our attitudes going into a game have governed how we perform,” Fox continued. “Saffron’s not going to be easy as it’s always a hard place to go but we’re looking forward to it.

“It’s about building these young kids up for the rest of this season and next.”